?Watches, Stories, and Gear? is a roundup of our favorite content, watch or otherwise, from around the internet. Here, we support other creators, explore interesting content that inspires us, and put a spotlight on causes we believe in. Oh, and any gear we happen to be digging on this week. We love gear.
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Separating the watchmaker from the watch

Credit: Aurélien Bergot for The New York Times

This New York Times profile of watchmaker Eric Coudray is a reminder of the sheer size of the watch world, and the many interesting people who inhabit it. When we think of the world class watchmakers working today, we probably think of the guys with their names on the dial: Dufour, Smith, Gronefeld, and so on. Eric Coudray is different. Not only will you not find his name on the dial of a watch he?s worked on, but he plainly admits that he doesn?t even really like watches (and he doesn?t seem to wear one). Coudray, who had a lead role in the development of Jaeger Le-Coultre?s multi-axis tourbillon, and has worked for MB&F and other brands as well, is in love with the mechanics of watchmaking, but not necessarily the end product. Coudray is a fascinating character (he lives in France, in a decommissioned windmill) who has a decidedly differen...